TEMPLE, Texas—The Temple Economic Development Corporation (Temple EDC) announced that a $6 million entertainment venue, Sparetime Family Entertainment, will open in Temple by the end of the year. Sparetime’s operating partner, Mike Emmons, anticipates that the unique family entertainment venue will be a “destination” that attracts people from all over the region, which has more than 450,000 residents in Temple, Belton, Killeen, Harker Heights and rural Bell County, combined. The business, which will employ approximately 25 full-time and 55 part-time employees, is expected to draw $5 million in annual sales, according to recent feasibility studies commissioned by Emmons.
The Temple EDC, Temple Chamber of Commerce and the City of Temple worked collaboratively to support a project that would fill a void of not having a family entertainment center in the community.
“This business will not only help create a ‘Quality of Place’ in Temple, but it will also bring additional sales tax revenue to our community,” said Charley Ayres, Temple EDC director of business development. “The great partnership among the Temple EDC, the Chamber and City is what helped solidify the deal and attract this valuable business to our community.”
Emmons, who also owns Killeen-based Emmons Construction, said Sparetime is a hospitality entertainment venue that focuses on the customer and family experience. The facility will be more than just a bowling alley; in addition to 24 lanes of bowling, Sparetime will feature a large arcade with 70 games and a prize/redemption center, a two-story laser tag arena, six 20- by 20-foot private party rooms, a large event space for up to 200 guests, several big screen TVs, a sound system, a small bar, and a restaurant that serves fast-casual food.
Construction is planned to break ground on the 41,000-square-foot facility in February, and construction will last eight to 10 months. Sparetime Family Entertainment will be located at 5435 205 Loop in Temple.
About Temple
Temple, Texas, is a community with a diverse economic base that includes healthcare, distribution and warehousing, and manufacturing as its foundation. Within 200 miles of a population of 19 million, Temple is in a strategic location that is central within the Southwest U.S. marketplace. Visit choosetemple.com.